A number of businesses will display a 'breastfeeding welcome here' mark in Dublin.

The sign is available to all businesses throughout Ireland and already has some well-known retailers on board.

Boots, Insomnia Coffee Company and Arnotts are among the businesses seeking to help normalise breastfeeding in public in the capital.

The 'breastfeeding welcome mark', developed by the First 1000 Days, was launched today with business owners Neven Maguire and Bobby Kerr.

Bobby Kerr, whose café chain Insomnia will display the mark in more than 60 outlets throughout Ireland, said: “We are delighted to display the mark in all Insomnia cafes throughout the country.

"By displaying the mark, I want to send a message to all families that Insomnia cafes are welcoming and supportive of breastfeeding mothers.”

Bobby Kerr, Neven Maguire, Karen Koster (Image: VIPIRELAND.COM)

Boots Ireland will also display the mark in 84 stores across the country, and Arnotts will support the movement in-store.

First 1000 Days is a movement led by Danone Early Life Nutrition which aims to drive awareness amongst parents-to-be and new parents about the importance of nutrition during the first 1000 days of life, from conception up until a child’s second birthday.

The First 1000 Days spans four key stages of development - pregnancy, breastfeeding, weaning and toddler.

A growing body of research shows that getting nutrition right in the first 1000 days can reduce the risk of adulthood diseases, such as obesity and heart disease.

Karen Koster and son John James (Image: Cathal Burke / VIPIRELAND.COM)

Speaking at the launch today, Michelle Gray, First 1000 Days Dietitian said: “We’re delighted to launch the breastfeeding mark.

"Through this initiative we hope to encourage mothers, business owners and society at large to welcome breastfeeding in public and see it as ‘the norm’.

"We are delighted to be working with representative bodies, retailers and hospitality businesses and are excited to welcome many, many more on board as the breastfeeding mark grows.”

Businesses wishing to join the movement and display the mark are encouraged to visit www.first1000days.ie/bfw to get merchandise like stickers, and displays cards.